Before It Even Launches, IO Hints at 007 First Light Sequel

Zero copies sold. Zero player reviews. Zero public hours logged. And IO Interactive is already talking about making a second one.

In a new interview with The Game Business, IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak openly discussed the possibility of a 007 First Light sequel, even though the first game doesn't ship until May 27. "If this goes really well and it's a beloved thing from the community, why not?" Abrak said, while crediting the studio's relationship with Amazon and MGM for keeping that door open.

Abrak framed the conversation around whether players connect with IO's original Bond character, performed by actor Patrick Gibson. "Is our character going to be well received? Is there going to be a community that likes him and wants to see more?" he asked. It's a fair question. IO isn't adapting an existing Bond portrayal; they built a new one from scratch, and that's a gamble no matter how strong your studio pedigree is.

The confidence is earned

I'll say this: teasing a sequel before your game is even on shelves is either wildly premature or a sign that the people making it know exactly what they have. Given what IO pulled off with the Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy, I'm leaning toward the latter. That studio spent the better part of a decade proving it could build intricate, replayable sandbox levels that rewarded creativity over brute force. If even half of that design philosophy carries into 007 First Light, a sequel conversation isn't arrogance; it's planning.

Abrak also acknowledged the broader industry climate, sounding grateful for IO's position. "I'm so grateful given the stories we hear every day in this industry," he said. "We are so blessed that we are in a place where we can pick and choose what we want to do." That line hits differently when you consider how many studios have shuttered or laid off hundreds of people over the past two years. IO is independently owned, self-publishing a Bond game and developing a separate fantasy title that Abrak described as "very, very far" along. Not many studios can say that right now.

The sequel talk wasn't the only forward-looking comment from the interview. Abrak confirmed IO is eager to return to Hitman eventually, saying the team "cannot wait to get into the engine room and upgrade, invent, and innovate Hitman" once bandwidth allows. He attributed the five-year gap since Hitman 3 to building two new games from the ground up rather than any desire to move away from Agent 47.

As I covered earlier this week, IO built 007 First Light for roughly half the cost of a typical AAA production, which makes the sequel math a lot simpler if the game performs. A lower budget means a lower sales threshold to justify doing it again. 007 First Light launches May 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with a Switch 2 version delayed to late summer. Abrak said the Switch 2 port is running but needs more polish, promising he'll "do everything" to get it out in good shape.